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Bush Defends Iraq War in Second Debate (posted AP at 9:33pm EST)
AP ^ | Oct. 08, 2004 | NEDRA PICKLER

Posted on 10/08/2004 6:34:33 PM PDT by Former Military Chick

ST. LOUIS - In a debate rematch, President Bush defended his invasion of Iraq and said "I wasn't happy when we found there weren't weapons" that prompted his administration to go to war against Saddam Hussein. Democratic challenger John Kerry responded that Bush had made the world more dangerous "because the president didn't make the right judgments."

The commander in chief insisted that Saddam posed a unique threat and the world was safer without him in power. But Kerry answered that Bush's handling of the war had left Iraq in chaos.

Twenty-five days before the election, Bush and Kerry confronted each other aggressively in a town-hall session before an audience of 140 likely voters. Perched on stools, the candidates were quizzed in the gymnasium at Washington University in St. Louis.

Unlike last week's first debate, which focused on national security issues, Friday's faceoff was open to all subjects.

Criticizing the president's decision to invade Iraq, Kerry said, "If we'd use smart diplomacy, we could have saved $200 billion and an invasion of Iraq and right now Osama bin Laden might be in jail or dead. That's the war on terror."

The debate came a day after the chief U.S. arms inspector reported that Saddam did not have illicit weapons nor the means to make them. Bush said, "We didn't find out he didn't have weapons till we got there."

The debate - the second of three - opened with a question to Kerry about whether he was too wishy-washy. Kerry turned that question into an attack against Bush, saying that the president had turned his campaign "into a weapon of mass deception," claiming that the four-term Massachusetts senator had changed his mind when he had not.

"I can see why people think he changes a lot," Bush retorted, "because he does." He pointed out that Kerry had said he had voted for an $87 billion appropriation for Iraq and Afghanistan before he voted against it.

Kerry used the opportunity to point out that the nation has suffered a net job loss under Bush.


TOPICS: Front Page News
KEYWORDS: elections; iraq; seconddebate
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In past tense, it is still going on folks AP!
1 posted on 10/08/2004 6:34:35 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
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To: Former Military Chick

I like how MSDNC constantly focuses on Bush's face when he isn't speaking.


2 posted on 10/08/2004 6:37:04 PM PDT by Johnnyboy2000 (Give it all up tommorrow to live in world without crime, and go back tothe circuit riding motocross)
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To: Former Military Chick

Hey there, they're doing it again aren't they?


3 posted on 10/08/2004 6:38:06 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: eagle mama

It is all they do. They create the story.


4 posted on 10/08/2004 6:40:54 PM PDT by Johnnyboy2000 (Give it all up tommorrow to live in world without crime, and go back tothe circuit riding motocross)
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To: Former Military Chick

Kerry claims he would have things "more wisely"...Bush should nail him with "Kerry's wisom is ONLY in hindsight". What are these catch-all phrases that DEM's always get away with? - statements like "we are for 'good schools'" - what is that and why do they get away with it?


5 posted on 10/08/2004 6:41:03 PM PDT by GoldHorde (iron sharpens iron, so one another)
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To: eagle mama

The press always does this.

Go Bush -- he's gotta pick it up NOW!


6 posted on 10/08/2004 6:41:13 PM PDT by johannes89a
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To: Former Military Chick

"I wasn't happy when we found there weren't weapons"


I think this was a unclear statement, Bush really feels that he wasn't happy that we have bad intelligence but was glad there were no weapons loaded and ready to go against our troupes. And there may have been very well WMDs transferred out,,, be he didn't say this in those exact words, although any thinking person know that is what he meant, however one can be assured that this statement out of context will be the sound byte to be abused by the opposition.


7 posted on 10/08/2004 6:42:28 PM PDT by seastay
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To: johannes89a

I am so sick of Kerry and his plan, he has a plan for everything but never elaborates on what his plan is.


8 posted on 10/08/2004 6:46:23 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: eagle mama

Bush just drew blood.


9 posted on 10/08/2004 6:48:20 PM PDT by Johnnyboy2000 (Give it all up tommorrow to live in world without crime, and go back tothe circuit riding motocross)
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To: Former Military Chick
It just galls me that Kerry dare tries to compare himself to an Eisenhower when talking about National Defense.

What a liar...

10 posted on 10/08/2004 6:48:44 PM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier!)
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To: Former Military Chick

Even when the moderator asks Kerry to elaborate, he side steps the subject matter.


11 posted on 10/08/2004 6:48:54 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: Johnnyboy2000

Yeah he did, twice.


12 posted on 10/08/2004 6:49:39 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: Former Military Chick
I thought I was watching the debate live right now!

I must be watching a tape delay?

Who won?

Let me guess! AP called it for Kerry.

13 posted on 10/08/2004 6:51:17 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: eagle mama

Exactly I posted one from the west coast if the first Prez debate ... already declaring who was the winner and it was only 15 minutes in then.

If anyone is on AOL and would like to join a political debate type in "Debate night".


14 posted on 10/08/2004 6:52:33 PM PDT by Former Military Chick (REALLY REALLY Ticked OFF in the heartland)
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To: dead

Yeah, I'm with you there. Kerry says Bush is the first President to lose jobs in 72 years. Does he really think people will believe that. What about the job situation when Jimmy Carter was in office? Interest rates during that administration were at 21%. Give me a freaking break.


15 posted on 10/08/2004 6:55:43 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: Former Military Chick

Yeah, I read that one too.


16 posted on 10/08/2004 6:56:48 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: Former Military Chick

If I were Bush, I would say this: "You notice John Kerry leads every sentence with the words 'This President'? It's because he knows he is worthless, and the only way you will vote for him is if you begin to doubt me."


17 posted on 10/08/2004 6:59:33 PM PDT by ShayAllen
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To: ShayAllen

The only thing he knows how to do is attack, that's because he can't take a stance on an issue. He's at it again.


18 posted on 10/08/2004 7:02:19 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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To: eagle mama

What's Kerry doing in Cardinal land talking about Red Sox? I didn't catch what he said.


19 posted on 10/08/2004 7:04:54 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: ShayAllen

Every time that Kerry refers something in another country, he's been there, do you suppose this is why he's been absent from the senate so many times? Apparently there's no place in this world that he hasn't been to.


20 posted on 10/08/2004 7:05:53 PM PDT by eagle mama (If Kerry wins the election will he flip-flop on Edwards and ask Saddam to be VP?)
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